A Caveat to the City of London, in Reference to the King's Writ for Electing Representatives for that City, to Meet and Consult with him in Parliament, the Fifteenth Day of January next Ensuing.
YOU all know the Miserable Distractions and Confusions unto which you have of late Years been brought, by Blind and Slavish Compliances with the Arbitrary Powers Assumed by the King: You have had neither Lawful Mayors nor Sheriffs, nor other Officers of Justice, nor any of those Legal Courts of Law or Equity, which your Antient Customs, and the Common Law, had Established for your Just and Honourable Government. You cannot be Ignorant the Impending Dangers over very many of your Lives and Estates are Infinite; if the Rigour of the Laws should be now Executed against all that exercised Illegal Powers, and have in several manners been partakers therein, and thereby now hold several Interests; and there is no means under Heaven left to Re-establish your lawful Government, and secure your Persons and Estates, but the Authority of the whole Kingdom in Parliament.
This being your Case, you ought to be cautious and studious how you proceed to constitute such a full and free Common Council of the Kingdom in Parliament, as may consult about necessary Provisions for your Peace, Security and Freedom, without fear of Force, without promises or hopes from any man of Preferment, or Honours, without entring into any New Oaths or Obligations inconsistent with the present state of Him and the Kingdom, and such a Council as may proceed with Impartial Justice, and true sence of the Antient Rights and Freedom now justly demanded by the Kingdom, under the Shelter of the Arms of the Most Noble Prince of ORANGE.
You ought to consider that the King seeing himself Unable to Impose Popery, and maintain his Arbitrary despotick Power over you, hath Deserted and Abandon'd the Administration of the Government, and refused all care to Protect you; which together with his Destruction of the Laws, and Governing by his Will and Force, have by the Laws of God and man, Absolved you from all duties of Subjection to him.
You must neither forget that you, with the rest of the Kingdom, have now joyned with His Highness the Prince of ORANGE in his Declaration that the Government is subverted; See the Stat. of the 5. E. and Law for Test. nor that the K. still continues without any Revocation, and persists in His Proclamations and Declarations, that you and all that have Concurred with, or Abetted his H. are [Page 2] Rebels and Traytors, and thereby most certainly incapable of Legally Consulting with him in Parliament.
You ought to remember, that 'tis the Import and Intent of the Writ now sent you to choose Citizens to Represent you in Parliament, that you by them should meet the King at Westminster, to consult with Him concerning all the great Affairs of the Kingdom: And that the express Statute-Laws require, That your Representatives that shall be chosen by His Writ, shall first Renew their Acknowledgment of Him, and Obligation to Him; by Swearing Obedience and Allegiance to him, and those Laws make Null and Void all the Elections of those that shall either refuse, or Neglect to Take such an Oath.
This being your present State and Case, 'tis Humbly Offered to you all, to Consider whether you can Legally, with Honesty or Honour, proceed upon the Kings present Writ, to Elect your Deputies to meet him in Parliament?
Do you think your selves free in a legal manner, to Consult with the King in Parliament, by your Representatives, whilst you stand Declared Traytors and Rebels?
Do you intend now you have Cast off and Renounced your Obligation of Obedience to the Kings Usurped enslaving Powers over you, to acknowledge Him as if He were Innocent, and to Swear a New Obedience to him, before his Renunciation of any of those Powers, or the least Security against them in Futurity?
Do you intend to Entangle your selves and the Kingdom in need, less and endless Disputes with him; And in the Interim, by want of Settlement, Trade and Commerce, to be Destroyed; the Kingdom Endangered, Wasted and Devoured with Vast Numerous Armies; and time given to Him to procure French Armies, to Involve the Kingdom in Blood and Confusion?
If you have Wisdom to Understand the things of your Peace, and to avoid the present dangerous Snare of Electing for Parliament by his Writ, you shall have suddenly shown you the only Lawful means of providing for your Safety, Peace and Freedom, wherein you may justly hope for the Divine Blessing.
So GOD Bless the City